In the province laws of 1749 and 1750 an act was passed to prevent the unnecessary destroying of alewives. Found it in the history of middleboro book. Sec.1 provides that when any children or servants offend against this act, they shall be punished by whipping, not exeeding 5 stripes, or by being put in the stocks, not exeeding 24 hours, or imprisonment, not exeeding 24 hours. OUCH !